[MISSION] IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON

[khuimods]

Characters: All! Those signed up to teams will have comment headers; there will be opportunities for non-teamed characters.
Date: Feb 15-28, running into the first week of March
Location: Around Aifaran
Situation: The Sentry has called on outside help from the Dreamfolk to deal with a challenging situation
Warnings/Rating: None yet, will be added as needed.


In the early morning hours of February 15th, a fire starts at city hall. The blaze burns hot and quick, but fire teams are able to put it out by the time the sun comes up. The Sentry holds a press conference that afternoon, sharing that the fire is determined to be arson. Witnesses describe someone wearing an ill-fitting Sentry uniform hurrying away from the scene.

The Sentry will announce that, due to the strain on their resources dealing with storm recovery, they are commissioning outside assistance to deal with a number of incidents similar to this one. Dreamfolk in particular are being called upon to once again use their unique abilities to aid the archipelago.

Those who report to the Verdant Sentry Headquarters are briefed on the situation: a contingent of the Sentry is departing Aifaran for the Zoech Lowlands to search for the people missing from Cape Averi. The outpost was found empty after the storm; at first this was presumed to be the fault of the Dreaming, but now they aren't so sure.

Those who choose to assist the Verdant Sentry will be given a small stipend and extended a certain degree of authority to act on the Sentry's behalf. The 'deputized' Dreamfolk will be responsible for investigating discrete incidents to help make up for the reduction in Sentry forces in Aifaran. They are being entrusted not only with these cases, but with the reputation of the Sentry itself.

Although they are requesting this assistance, the Sentry remain tight-lipped about Cape Averi beyond the bare-bones logistics. Their suspicions are not made public, and nor will they be shared with the assembled volunteers unless these investigations intersect. Abuse of this power will not be tolerated.

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OOC Notes: Characters will be provided with tools needed to conduct the investigation, such as gloves and basic forensics gear (fingerprint dust, evidence collection bags, etc). They will also be handed paperwork

If you did not sign your character(s) up for a team, you can submit a summary of what the character will look into and we will provide a reply as to the findings and effects. This will be a one-time thing for these characters in order to maximize the time for the main mission logistics.

Comments

Outside Elseya Hall (Meet-up Thread)

[afoolsgold]

It is no small irony that mere weeks after his impromptu visit to the city gaol, here the Fool stands as a deputized investigator into the arson at city hall. Perhaps someone higher up the chain of command has decided to make use of his penchant for troublemaking; he does appear exceptionally gifted at finding things that do not wish to be found.

He stands out amongst the Sentry loitering outside city hall, all flowing red fabrics and golden hair, and keeps his eyes peeled for the rest of the people tasked with pursuing this lead with him. The air here is heavy with the smell of smoke, mostly woody from paper but undercut with something more acrid.

[ninjainviolet]

It had been a long time since the Sentry had asked Sheena about her skills--so much so that they had actually started annoying her. She had told them everything she knew and never heard from them again.

Until a few days ago when a member of the Sentry had contacted her.

She had mentioned doing some investigating in the past almost in passing, but it appeared they had remembered. And she had no problem accepting the request. Now, she's moving along slowly, her eyes roaming the ground and the surroundings as she takes in the damage.

Halting outside city hall, she notices someone definitely not in a Sentry uniform and approaches, the ends of her huge pink bow flapping behind her. She had been told others were going to be helping and calls out to him as she nears.

"Excuse me, but are you one of the people who are looking into the fire as well?"

[astralera]

It takes Era longer to meet with everyone than she would have liked despite having left earlier. She is still learning her way around, and the locals are unfamiliar enough with her and her race that a few people have already mistaken her for a child. After the second time Era activates a glamour plate to shift her from her cloak to her cheongsam — she may not be the most shapely of women, but there is no mistaking her figure is for a child's when her clothes hug her frame.

Eventually Era also summons her Carbuncle. Its sense of smell is enough that it isn't hard to find city hall despite how turned around she had gotten. Tracing the scent of a fire is far from difficult for the nose of her companion. Once they arrive Era realizes her next predicament — she has no idea who she is supposed to be looking for. It is, honestly, more than a little overwhelming.

But she can help. She wants to help. So she shoves all of her discomfort aside and looks around for anyone who seems as out of place as she feels.

[upshore]

Miles likes mysteries more than he has disdain for the police, so he'd allowed himself to be deputized. Okay, okay - so he'd jumped at the chance, and not least because this arson had been chewing at him since he'd heard about it. It had been an obvious crime, but maybe that had been the point.

He shows up, fashionably late and definitely not because he overslept. There's a kid here - no, wait, not a kid, just a short person. Even if he hadn't already been sure they're a Dreamfolk, the bunny-fox-thing clinches it.

"Uh, hey," he says. "You lost?"

[afoolsgold]

It seems quite a crowd has gathered now, and the Fool turns about to survey the others with curious eyes. All strangers to him, or near enough to it, but that is often part and parcel with being one of the Dreamfolk.

"I believe we are all here for the same purpose," he begins, looking from Sheena to Era, and then at last to Miles. (Each of them stand out in their own unique way.) He gestures with a slender hand towards the front of the building. "The fire began in the records room, and the perpetrator was seen fleeing the scene--though not apprehended, clearly. I hope we shall have better luck solving this than the Sentry."

He dips his head to them once in greeting. "You may call me the Fool."

[ninjainviolet]

Sheena studies everyone as the group gathers, recognizing those she had seen around the city during her travels. The young lady, however, doesn't ring a bell. However, like Miles, Sheena senses that she seems a bit lost. Mom!Mode immediately kicks in, and the ninja works her way towards the woman as they gather closer.

"I'm Sheena. Sheena Fujibayashi," she says in response to his introduction. "Nice to meet you."

She turns her gaze towards the building, then what may be the only way to get out of here quickly. "Hmmm. What was so important that someone felt they had to destroy the records room? And where did they go?" She barely pauses before continuing.

"If no one minds, I'd like to try to find the guy who did this. I'm not exactly one for searching through records."

[astralera]

Era offers a polite bow in greeting.

"I am Lieutenant Ra, though I believe most of you know me as Era."

Sheena's suggestion has a great deal of merit. Carbuncle perks up at Era's side as she thinks of how useful it will be in this part of the investigation.

"Carbuncle can track the culprit's trail by scent. It may prove more useful than my rifling through records here."

[upshore]

"Miles Upshur," Miles says, "but really, I'll answer to anything." Just gotta be careful not to turn your head when someone's addressing the Fool, Miles!

When the conversation turns to searching through records, he grins. "I'm good at finding documents," he says. "I'm down to investigate some arson."

[afoolsgold]

"Then it seems our best course of action is to divide our efforts." The Fool catches Miles' eye and gives him a smile that is just this side of sly. "I suppose Anything and I shall depart for the records room."

(Should someone calling themselves the Fool really be left to orchestrate the logistics of this endeavour? They can quibble over that later if they like.)

[ninjainviolet]

"Sounds good to me," Sheena says before chuckling and turning to Miles. "Well, you did say you answer to 'anything'."

In a moment, she turns to Era. "So, ready to go hunting? The only thing left to do is to decide where to start? Find where they left the building? Or start from where they were seen?"

Sheena is already leaning towards the latter; they may learn something about this guy just from that.